Entrance Exams for MBA in India 2024-25: Dates, Fees, and Eligibility
Thinking about pursuing an MBA in India? You're not alone. Every year, thousands of aspiring business leaders gear up to take up one or more entrance exam for MBA that open the doors to top management institutes across the country.
This blog is your one-stop guide to each entrance exam for MBA 2024-25, its fees, eligibility and important dates.
Entrance Exams for MBA: Overview
There are multiple entrance exams for MBA colleges. As a student, it becomes overwhelming to keep up with all the exams. Here is an overview of the major exams:
| Aspect |
Description |
| Eligibility |
Minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) in Bachelor’s. Final-year students can also apply. |
| Entrance Exam for MBA |
Candidates must first appear for one or more entrance exams for MBA such as CAT, XAT, GMAT, or MAT. |
| Shortlisting |
Based on the score of the entrance exam for MBA, institutes shortlist candidates for further rounds. |
| Group Discussion |
Shortlisted candidates participate in a group discussion to evaluate their communication and teamwork skills. |
| Personal Interview |
This step assesses the candidate's personality, motivation, and suitability for the programme. |
| Final Selection |
Institutes consider scores of entrance exam for MBA, GD, PI performance, and sometimes academic records and work experience for the final selection. |
| Cutoffs for Colleges |
Cutoffs vary by college but are typically high. For example, IIM Ahmedabad (80 percentile for general category), IIM Bangalore (85 percentile), and IIM Calcutta (85 percentile). This varies largely on the overall profile of the candidate. |
| Top Colleges |
Top colleges accepting these exams include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, XLRI Jamshedpur, ISB Hyderabad, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, etc. |
| Courses Offered |
Different colleges offer different courses. IIMs generally offer PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) MBA, and some colleges also offer specialised courses such as PGDM in Marketing, Finance, etc. |
| Mode of Education |
Two-year, full-time residential program. |
Now that you are aware of how your MBA journey is going to look, move ahead to our list covering each popular entrance exam for MBA.
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Upcoming MBA Entrance Exam: Updated List
The following MBA entrance exam list covers important information about the upcoming exams:
| Entrance Exam |
Registration Date |
Exam Date |
Eligibility |
Accepting Colleges |
| CAT (Common Admission Test) |
August - September 2024 |
November 24, 2024 |
Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) |
IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, and over 1,200 colleges |
| XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) |
August - December 2024 |
January 5, 2025 |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT, and over 800 colleges |
| GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) |
Year-round |
Year-round |
No specific eligibility criteria; candidates of any age and qualification can apply |
ISB, IIMs, XLRI, and over 2,300 global business schools |
| MAT (Management Aptitude Test) |
Four times a year (Feb, May, Sept, Dec) |
February 22, 2025 (PBT); March 8, 2025 (CBT) |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
Christ University, NIILM, ITM, and over 600 colleges |
| CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) |
November 2024 - January 2025 |
March 2025 |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes, and over 1,000 colleges |
| SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) |
August - November 2024 |
December 10, 17, 22, 2024 |
Minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) in UG |
SIBM, SIIB, SCMHRD, and other Symbiosis institutes |
Keep visiting the official website of your favourite university to stay on top of their MBA entrance exam application's last date.
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Top Entrance Exams for MBA in India: Key Highlights
Now, let us take a look at each entrance exam for MBA in India one by one.
1. CAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Conducted by |
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Popularity & Acceptance |
Accepted by over 1,200 MBA colleges, including all IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, and more |
| Key Sections |
Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude |
| Application Dates |
Registration Opens: August 2024
Registration Closes: September 2024
Exam Date: November 24, 2024 |
| Exam Fees |
General: INR 2,400
Reserved: INR 1,200 |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Undergraduate degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD)
Final year students can also apply |
To learn more comprehensive details about CAT exam, read this blog.
Write an anchor text as per guidelines and internal link it to the exam blog, for all exams in this list
2. XAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Conducted by |
XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Importance & Acceptance |
Accepted by over 800 MBA colleges, including XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT |
| Unique Sections |
Decision Making, Essay Writing |
| Application Dates |
Registration Opens: August 2024
Registration Closes: December 2024
Exam Date: January 5, 2025 |
| Exam Fees |
General: INR 2,100 |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
Final year students can apply |
Ready to ace your preparation? Learn more about the XAT exam here.
3. GMAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Accepted by |
Over 2,300 business schools worldwide, including ISB, IIMs, XLRI |
| Key Sections |
Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning |
| Application Dates |
Available year-round; candidates can choose their test dates |
| Exam Fees |
INR 22,982 (approx) |
| Eligibility Criteria |
No specific eligibility criteria; candidates of any age and qualification can apply |
Curious about the exam details? Check out this blog to know more about the GMAT exam.
4. MAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Conducted by |
All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Frequency |
Conducted four times a year (February, May, September, December) |
| Acceptance |
Accepted by over 600 B-schools, including Christ University, NIILM, ITM |
| Application Dates |
February Session: PBT - September 22, 2024; CBT - December 8, 2024 |
| Exam Fees |
INR 1,650 |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Final year students can also apply |
Discover everything you need to know about the MAT exam in this blog.
5. CMAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Conducted by |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Importance & Acceptance |
Accepted by over 1,000 colleges, including JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, and Great Lakes |
| Key Sections |
General Awareness included |
| Application Dates |
Registration Opens: November 2024
Registration Closes: January 2025 |
| Exam Date |
March 2025 |
| Exam Fees |
General: INR 2,000
Reserved: INR 1,000 |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
Final year students can apply |
Want to dive deeper into the exam requirements? Find out more about the CMAT exam here.
6. SNAP Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Conducted by |
Symbiosis International (Deemed) University |
| Unique Sections |
Includes a section for General Awareness |
| Application Dates |
Registration Opens: August 2024
Registration Closes: November 2024
Exam Dates: December 10, 17, and 22, 2024 |
| Exam Fees |
INR 1,950 |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST)
Final year students can apply |
Read this blog to learn more essential information about the SNAP exam.
7. NMAT Entrance Exam for MBA
| Aspect |
Details |
| Conducted in a 75-day window |
Typically from October to December |
| Attempts Allowed |
Up to 3 attempts per year |
| Application Dates |
Registration Opens: August 2024
Registration Closes: November 2024
Exam Window: October to December 2024 |
| Exam Fees |
INR 2,800 |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
Final year students can apply |
Looking for comprehensive exam insights? Uncover all the details about the NMAT exam here.
Other than these, there are a few other notable MBA entrance exam 2024 that premier colleges in India accept. Let’s quickly look at each entrance exam for MBA accepted by colleges other than IIMs and state universities.
Other Notable MBA Entrance Exams
If you couldn’t make it through any one of the above entrance exams for an MBA, don’t worry! You could target more tests and still land at a top college:
| Entrance Exam for MBA |
Registration Date |
Exam Date |
Eligibility |
Accepting Colleges |
| IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Test) |
September - October 2024 |
December 2024 |
50% marks in UG (45% for SC/ST/PwD) |
IIFT Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada |
| MH-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) |
February - March 2025 |
March 2025 |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
JBIMS, SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya, and other Maharashtra institutes |
| TISSNET (Tata Institute of Social Sciences Entrance Test) |
November 2024 - January 2025 |
February 2025 |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
TISS Mumbai, Tuljapur, Guwahati, and Hyderabad |
| TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) |
January - February 2025 |
March 2025 |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
Anna University, PSG Institute of Management, and other Tamil Nadu colleges |
| IBSAT (ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test) |
July - December 2024 |
December 23-24, 2024 |
At least 50% marks in Bachelor’s |
ICFAI Business Schools (IBS) across India |
| KMAT (Karnataka Management Aptitude Test) |
June - October 2025 |
November 2025 |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
169 AICTE-approved MBA colleges in Karnataka |
| PGCET (Karnataka Post Graduate Common Entrance Test) |
To be announced |
To be announced |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
Various Karnataka colleges |
| ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions) |
Multiple sessions (February, May, July, December) |
Multiple dates |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline |
600+ business schools across India |
Minimal Documentation. Higher Chances of Approval. Easy Online Processes. Check Your Eligibility.
Entrance Exams MBA: Syllabus
The subjects and syllabus for most of the entrance exams for the MBA are similar and overlap. But you must have a good understanding of them so that you can prepare accordingly.
Here is a comprehensive MBA entrance exam list covering their subjects and marketing scheme:
| MBA Entrance Exam Name |
Subjects |
Positive Marks |
Negative Marks |
| CAT |
Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
+3 per correct answer |
-1 per incorrect answer (MCQs) |
| XAT |
Verbal & Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, Essay Writing |
+1 per correct answer |
-0.25 per incorrect answer |
| GMAT |
Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning |
Varies by section |
No negative marking |
| MAT |
Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence, Critical Reasoning, Indian & Global Environment |
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| CMAT |
Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness |
+4 per correct answer |
-1 per incorrect answer |
| SNAP |
General English, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency, Current Affairs |
+1 per correct answer |
-0.25 per incorrect answer |
| NMAT |
Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning |
+3 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| IIFT |
Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, General Awareness |
Varies by section |
Varies by section |
| MH-CET |
Logical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability/Reading Comprehension |
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| TISSNET |
English Proficiency, Mathematical Skills, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness |
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| TANCET |
Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability |
+1 per correct answer |
-1/3 per incorrect answer |
| IBSAT |
Quantitative Ability, Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation, Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability |
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| KMAT |
Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Basic Aptitude |
+4 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| PGCET |
Proficiency in English Language, General Knowledge, Reasoning and General Intelligence, Quantitative Analysis |
+1 per correct answer |
No negative marking |
| ATMA |
Analytical Reasoning Skills, Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills |
+1 per correct answer |
-0.25 per incorrect answer |
If you need more information regarding the syllabus for any entrance exam for MBA, you can also read this blog.
Exam Fees for Major MBA Entrance Exams
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Here is an MBA entrance exam list with their respective fees:
| MBA Entrance Exam Name |
Exam Fee |
| CAT (Common Admission Test) |
General: INR 2,400
Reserved: INR 1,200 |
| XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) |
INR 2,100 |
| GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) |
INR 22,800 |
| MAT (Management Aptitude Test) |
INR 1,650 |
| CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) |
General: INR 2,000
Reserved: INR 1,000 |
| SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) |
INR 1,950 |
| NMAT (Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test) |
INR 2,800 |
Also read: MBA Course Fees in Top Colleges in India
MBA entrance exams in India can be confusing for aspirants. With different dates, fees and eligibility criteria, choosing the right exam can make a huge difference in getting into a top B school. Stay informed and prepared and you can navigate the admission process better and get into your desired MBA program for 2024-25.
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Choosing the right entrance exam is crucial for securing admission to top MBA programs in India for 2024-25. By understanding the dates, fees, and eligibility criteria, you can better plan your preparation and increase your chances of success. Stay informed and start early to ensure you meet all the requirements and achieve your MBA goals.
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